Zechariah
9 reminds me of comedian Jeff Foxworthy. He describes “rednecks”
with lines like, “If your working TV sits on top of your
non-working TV, you might be a redneck”. His observations are
about types of people, not about a region of the country, because the
redneck mentality is everywhere. Today’s chapter contrasts the
weakness of man with the strength God. The chapter begins with a
warning to actual cities in Syria, the region north of Israel. I
picture faded slogans on abandoned water towers, proclaiming
greatness to empty streets. We see the past and the future side by
side. In the middle of the list we read, “For
the eyes of all people and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord“.
And we read the universal jokes of man, “though
they are very skillful… built herself a stronghold…
heaped up silver like dust, and
gold like the dirt of the streets… the Lord will take away her
possessions“. Many of us have
resisted God in our lives because we view ourselves as too smart, or
strong, or wealthy to fall for such fantasy. We fool ourselves into
believing that what is now, will always be. Friend is your life held
together with Duct Tape? He looks ahead and sees a day of
destruction for the region. Others will “see
it and fear… writhe in agony… her hope will wither“.
Have you accepted temporary fixes for eternal problems?
Next
we read an important change concerning the cross town rivals. To the
nation that fought against Israel for centuries, God says, “I
will put an end
to the pride of the Philistines“.
But notice in the end, “Those
who are left will belong to our God and become a clan in Judah“.
Even the most fervent haters of God will be given God’s mercy.
There is hope for the apathetic and the indifferent as well. There
is special care given to the Temple in Jerusalem, “Never
again will an oppressor overrun My people, for now I am keeping
watch“. Do you know He is
watching over you too?
The chapter closes with multiple prophesies
about the first and second coming of
Messiah. “See, your king comes
to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey… He
will proclaim peace to the nations“.
Messiah came first as the Lamb of God for the atonement of mankind’s
sin. The rest of the chapter describes His second coming, “His
rule will extend from sea to sea… to the ends of the earth“.
He calls those who have not received Christ, “prisoners
of hope“, but notice “I
will restore twice as much to you“.
Have you settled for survival, instead of abundant life? He adds,
“the blood of My covenant with
you“. Messiah will return for
His people, “Then the Lord will
appear over them; His arrow will flash like lightning… The
Sovereign Lord will
sound the trumpet“. He will
finish what He started. “The
Lord their God will save His people on that day“.
The battle is the Lord’s. To the poor in spirit and to those
broken down He promises, “They
will sparkle
in His land like jewels in a crown“.
To all that accept His restoration, He adds, “How
attractive and beautiful they will be!”
Friend, if you are still too proud to accept Christ as your Savior,
you might just be a redneck.